Diagnostics for cardiovascular disorders

Abstract

The kits and methods of the present invention relate to the diagnosis of cardiovascular disorders. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether a subject has a fragile plaque disorder. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether the subject has an occlusive disorder. In one aspect, the invention discloses a method and a kit for determining whether the subject has a restenosis disorder. Other methods of the present invention relate to the selection of therapeutics for a patient with a cardiovascular disease.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for determining whether a patient has or is predisposed to having a fragile plaque disorder, the method comprising: 
       detecting in a nucleic acid sample from the patient an allele selected from the group consisting of an IL-1A (+4845) allele and an IL-1B (+3954) allele, wherein detection of at least one IL-1B (+3954) allele 2 and/or determination that the subject is homozygous for the IL-1A (+4845) allele 2 indicates that the patient has or is predisposed to having a fragile plaque disorder.  
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising detecting one or more additional alleles, wherein detection of one or more additional alleles associated with a fragile plaque disorder further indicates that the patient has or is predisposed to having a fragile plaque disorder. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said detecting step comprises a procedure selected from the group consisting of: 
       a) allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization;  
       b) size analysis;  
       c) sequencing;  
       d) hybridization;  
       e) 5′ nuclease digestion;  
       f) single-stranded conformation polymorphism;  
       g) allele specific hybridization;  
       h) primer specific extension; and  
       j) oligonucleotide ligation assay.  
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein said size analysis is preceded by a restriction enzyme digestion. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , wherein said restriction enzyme digestion uses an appropriate restriction enzyme selected from the group consisting of Alu I, Msp I, Nco I, Fnu 4HI, Ava I, Bsu 36 I, and Taq I. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising amplifying the nucleic acid sample. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 6 , wherein amplifying the nucleic acid sample employs a primer pair selected from the group consisting of any of SEQ ID Nos. 7 and 8; and 9 and 10. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising recommending a fragile plaque disorder therapeutic agent and/or regimen. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising administering a fragile plaque disorder therapeutic agent and/or regimen. 
     
     
       10. A method for determining whether a patient has or is predisposed to having a single vessel occlusive disorder, the method comprising: 
       detecting in a nucleic acid sample from the patient an IL-1RN (+2018) allele, wherein detection of at least one IL-1RN (+2018) allele 2 indicates that the patient has or is predisposed to having a single vessel occlusive disorder.  
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising detecting one or more additional alleles, wherein detection of one or more additional alleles associated with a single vessel occlusive disorder further indicates that the patient has or is predisposed to having a single vessel occlusive disorder. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said detecting step comprises a procedure selected from the group consisting of: 
       a) allele specific oligonucleotide hybridization;  
       b) size analysis;  
       c) sequencing;  
       d) hybridization;  
       e) 5′ nuclease digestion;  
       f) single-stranded conformation polymorphism;  
       g) allele specific hybridization;  
       h) primer specific extension; and  
       j) oligonucleotide ligation assay.  
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 12 , further comprising amplifying the nucleic acid sample. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein amplifying the nucleic acid sample employs the primers shown in SEQ ID Nos. 3 and 4. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 12 , wherein said size analysis is preceded by a restriction enzyme digestion. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein said restriction enzyme digestion uses an appropriate restriction enzyme selected from the group consisting of Alu I, Msp I, Nco I, Fnu 4HI, Ava I, Bsu 36 I, and Taq I. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising recommending an occlusive disorder therapeutic agent and/or regimen. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising administering an occlusive disorder therapeutic agent and/or regimen.